0p0 Chapter 922 The Empress's Good Intentions!
Chapter 922 The Empress's Good Intentions!
Princess Zhaoyang was worried that if Shuang'er stayed in the palace, she would have to be more careful about what she did outside.
But now that the Empress Dowager has asked, we can't very well refuse, can we? We're counting on the Empress Dowager to favor us in the future.
"Grandmother, Shuang'er is willing."
"Good child, Grandma is very happy with you!"
Mu Xin Nuan also laughed and said, "That's right! These girls are so cute and considerate. Whenever I think about my two mischievous kids, I feel they're a bit too noisy. My daughter is much more well-behaved."
"If you want a daughter, go and have one yourself. Don't even think about taking advantage of Shuang'er."
The conversation between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law was extremely harmonious.
Anyone could see that the Empress Dowager was very satisfied with the Empress!
Even though the Emperor has not yet taken any concubines, the Empress has already given birth to two sons for him, which ensures the continuation of the imperial line. Furthermore, the Empress is virtuous and capable; it is said that she personally oversees the public and girls' schools in the capital. She even personally paid half of the initial expenses.
Having such a virtuous empress is a blessing for the Great Yong Dynasty.
Prince Consort Luo also felt that anyone who married such a beautiful, generous, and well-mannered wife would be overjoyed.
But some people just can't stand seeing the empress living so comfortably.
Princess Zhaoyang concealed the jealousy in her eyes. "Your Majesty flatters me. Shuang'er is quite a mischievous girl, but she's a little shy about being born here."
Shuang'er stamped her foot, embarrassed, and said, "Mother, why are you embarrassing your daughter?"
Mu Xin Nuan laughed heartily, half-covering her lips with one hand, "Mother, look, when girls act cute, they're just adorable. Unlike those boys, who are all unruly."
"Is Your Majesty speaking ill of me?"
Everyone looked towards the palace entrance, where the Crown Prince, dressed in a yellow python robe and wearing a jade crown, entered. With a handsome face, he walked briskly to the Empress Dowager and sweetly greeted her, "Greetings to my Imperial Grandmother."
"Alright! My good grandson, get up quickly."
"Grandmother, I just overheard Mother saying bad things about me. She was praising someone else's daughter. Was she really praising her?"
Duanmu Zonghua looked at Shuang'er, who was much taller than him.
"Greetings to His Highness the Crown Prince."
Mu Xin Nuan smiled as she looked at her, "Look at how well this young lady behaves! It's clear that the princess and the prince consort have taught her well."
What happened today?
Prince Consort Luo sensed that something was amiss.
Previously, the Empress's attitude towards the Luo family was not very good, so why is she praising Shuang'er so often today?
However, being praised is always better than being criticized, right?
The Imperial Son-in-Law smiled somewhat awkwardly, "Thank you for your kind words, Your Majesty. It's all thanks to the Princess's excellent guidance."
Princess Zhaoyang also felt a little uncomfortable. The Empress had been making good gestures today, but why did she feel a chill down her spine?
"Alright, Zonghua, this is your cousin. Now that you're here and have greeted her, take your cousin outside to play. There are a few older brothers here too, you can all go out and play together."
"Yes, Queen Mother."
"Yes, ma'am."
With the children all out, it was much easier for the adults to talk.
Looking at the room full of women, it seemed somewhat inconvenient for Prince Consort Luo to stay.
"Is the Prince Consort reluctant to part with the Princess? We are surrounded by women here. Why don't you go outside for a walk? Or perhaps you could play a game of chess with the Emperor Emeritus?"
Prince Consort Luo thought that this was not bad.
He dared not wander around other parts of the inner palace, but he could still keep the Emperor Emeritus company and have a chat.
"His Highness the Crown Prince truly displayed a dignified demeanor just now."
"Indeed, his demeanor is truly extraordinary."
After the Prince Consort Luo left, the women became much bolder in their speech and naturally began to vie with each other to praise the Crown Prince.
Who doesn't know that His Highness the Crown Prince is the apple of the eye of the Emperor Emeritus and the Empress Dowager?
Even though the emperor appeared to be strict with the crown prince, he actually doted on him a great deal.
"Mother, I have some matters to attend to, so I won't stay any longer. My elder sister is here, so she can keep you company. I'll take my leave now."
"Go ahead, go ahead. I know you're busy."
It wasn't until the afternoon that the mother and daughter finally found an opportunity to have a private conversation. Although the Empress Dowager didn't really want to have a private conversation with her, she thought about how old she was and how many more times she could talk to them.
"Mother, which young master do you think is more suitable?"
The Empress Dowager recounted the story of all the young masters who had come today, but made no mention of which one she wished to marry.
"I think they're all quite good, but none of them seem to be good enough for my Shuang'er. Let's take another look. We can't let Shuang'er suffer. Waiting another year or two won't hurt. We shouldn't tie our Shuang'er down too early, or we'll regret it when someone better comes along."
Princess Zhaoyang's face lit up with joy; this was exactly what she had in mind.
The reason why the marriage proposal for Shuang'er was brought up so early was simply to use the Empress Dowager's influence to elevate her daughter's reputation and spread good word about her.
There will be no need to worry about my daughter's marriage in the future.
The Empress Dowager was probably aware of Princess Zhaoyang's thoughts, but she simply chose not to expose them.
After Mu Xin Nuan returned to Cheng Qian Palace, Duan Mu Chu Ze also just returned.
"I heard you went to Fushou Palace? Is Zhaoyang there too?"
"Hmm. I think her daughter is quite well-behaved. Since I saw that Mother liked her, I said a few more words to her and asked Shuang'er to stay in the palace to keep Mother company."
Duanmu Chuze's eyes flickered, and he immediately understood her intention.
He sighed softly and pulled her into his arms. "Anuan, I'm sorry to have wronged you. You've thought of everything so thoroughly. Zhaoyang's intentions are far from simple, and he's targeting you and the Mu family in every way. Yet you still think of his children. I really have married a virtuous wife."
"You're only realizing now that I'm a virtuous wife?"
Duanmu Chuze chuckled softly. "Of course not. Anuan, you really like her daughter?"
"Yeah, seeing our two sons makes me feel a bit annoyed. Why is it that neither of them is as troublesome as the other? Look at Zongyao, how old is he? How come he's so naughty and mischievous? It's really infuriating to look at him."
Duanmu Chuze nodded seriously, "She is indeed a bit mischievous and not easy to manage. How about we have a daughter?"
Mu Xin Nuan blushed and glared at him. "You're always so unseemly! You're the Emperor now, how can you talk like that? Be careful that our son hears you in the future and laughs at you for being shameless!"
"What do you mean, 'shameless old man'? How old are you! Hehe, I'm serious, let's have another daughter."